Bring Soeharto to international court, demand Irianese students

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Students in Jayapura called for former president Soeharto to be tried at the International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity.

In a demonstration on Monday, hundreds of students conveyed their demand to Irian Jaya Governor Freddy Numberi, Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. Hotman Siagian, Trikora Military Commander Brig. Gen. Idris Gassing and other authorities.

Spokesman Apolos Sroyer, who read the students' statement, said, "during his regime, Soeharto's security approach and development policy caused much suffering."

"Excessive deployment of troops has resulted in human rights abuses since Irian Jaya was integrated into the Republic of Indonesia," Apolos said, adding that under Soeharto's development policy, "Papuans were treated as objects."

A human rights group and church representatives urged the government on Saturday to establish an independent team to investigate rights abuses in Irian Jaya, including last year's incident when security troops opened fire on hundreds of Irianese who had raised a West Papua independence flag. Authorities said one man was killed during the incident.

However, the church representatives and the Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy said on Saturday that at least eight people were killed and 37 injured, including four who were disabled, in the Biak shooting.

A civilian died on Friday after being shot in the head. Three members of the Military Police were detained for their alleged involvement in the shooting.

The students said: "Papuans have always been intimidated... and killed like animals, and it continues even today."

The military said separatists instigated the recent violence by, among other things, holding flag raising ceremonies for an independent West Papua. The military and police said security personnel had acted according to procedure.

Separately on Saturday, a number of leading Irianese figures protested the plan to divide Irian Jaya into three separate provinces, saying locals had not been consulted about the planned division. Authorities have cited a number of reasons, including efficiency, for the planned division of the province.

"If necessary, the government can hold a referendum to find out if the people agree with the division of the province," John Rumbiak, a human rights supervisor, said.(43/anr)